The Benefits of Boredom: Sandi Mann's Insight - Essay Sample

Introduction

Although studies on the subject of boredom are not abundant, some psychologists and neurologists have delved into its causes and effects. One of the greatest experts in the English psychologist Sandi Mann, author of The Art of Knowing how to get bored, firmly affirms that it is healthy to get bored a little every day (Mann, 2017). His first two jobs, in a clothing store and a cytology laboratory, made him so monotonous that as soon as he could, he began to investigate the matter. His diagnosis was that today people are more bored because we live in hyperactivity cognitive and informative world that leads us to a spiral of entertainment and activity (Mann, 2017). Besides, we are influenced by prejudices such as the one that identifies stress and a busy life with being someone professionally relevant. Therefore, when the activity stops, the person feels emptiness; he fears not knowing what to do.

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People live in a programmed society in which it seems that having constant tasks seems to be the most socially acceptable. In today's information age, people are so connected to technology, and there are so many ways to spend the free time that boredom should be nonexistent (Hand, 2016). However, boredom seems to be increasing, and the more stimulation people receive, the more they desire. People are losing the ability to tolerate repetition and the routine of everyday life. There is a silver lining to boredom, and it can be a catalyst for humor, fun, reflection, creativity, and inspiration:

Boredom is a powerful force to pressure people and stimulate their creativity. Downtime encourages creativity and inner development. The high level of stimulation means that more and more action is needed. Being bored encourages inventiveness by taking up free space (Sledge, 2017). Our brain is curious by nature and if we leave it idle, it will manage to stay active by initiating imaginative processes and promoting independence from other stimuli. For example, when one leaves a child alone in a room, he will look for anything to have fun. The excess of stimuli does not give rise to those creative moments. For this reason, children often like the toy box more than the toy itself since the toy already provides solutions and stimuli while the box will provoke more initiative in creating new games more adapted to their tastes and needs.

A 2018 study by Australian National, Nanyang Technological and Singapore Management universities found that boredom is a powerful source of creativity and productivity (Park, Lim, & Hui, 2019). This conclusion was reached after dividing the participants into two groups. The first was tasked with monotonous labor, sorting beans, and the other with more laborious preparation. When finished, it was seen that the boredom of the first group drove a much greater number of ideas than the second. It was also found that for that creativity to emerge; bored people must have curiosity, the ability to learn and to control their emotions (Park et al., 2019). When these conditions exist, the bored mind looks for escape routes. Organizations such as Google already implant disconnection moments at work among their employees to recharge the mind and promote innovative ideas.

Boredom allows people to connect with themselves, explore their conflicts and bring out their most positive facets. Whether boredom is negative or positive only depends on the meaning given to it. It can be an empty space without meaning or on the contrary a space of rest and personal exploration that allows us to reflect and even help make decisions about one's life (Van Tilburg & Igou, 2017). Boredom is an opportunity to get to know each other better, which helps people organize themselves and see things more clearly. It presents a good time to see where life is going, what new expectations one has and what a person wants to do. Boredom also decreases stress (Hand, 2016). If people live a life that is constantly invaded by stimuli, deadlines, and tasks to be carried out, it is beneficial to lower cortisol levels and to return to a state of balance. It is one more strategy of coping with stress, letting oneself be carried away by doing nothing without worrying about it. Moreover, it also balances a person emotionally. It allows one to have a state of relaxation that helps us understand ourselves and become self-conscious, which allows us to better accept ourselves with our defects and strengths.

According to Todd (2005), boredom can lead to depression, however, it also has physical and mental health benefits. Boredom helps people avoid becoming addicted to technology, for example, being on the TV or the phone all the time. Researchers have discovered that the inability to check one's smartphone regularly can be a source of stress and anxiety. Getting rid of this constant stimulation from our high-tech gadgets would allow us to sleep better, be more rested and serene.

Boredom also encourages empathy. The most boring situations allow people to improve their altruistic abilities towards others, such as blood donations, according to a study by the University of Limerick (Ireland) (The Science Times, 2020). Bored people find their actions insignificant; they are therefore motivated to invest in activities that make sense. Boredom can make people perform philanthropic because they give us the feeling of accomplishing something important. The more we get bored, the more we will try to reach out to others, be selfless and develop prosocial behavior (The Science Times, 2020). Moreover, being bored can also allow us to develop new hobbies, to meet new faces, and to encourage change. When one gets bored, they may wonder why they are like that, and to get an answer, one must think of what must be changed so that the situation is different. That is, one can take advantage of those boring moments to reflect on alternatives to this state.

Another benefit that boredom gives a person is the possibility of daydreaming and building the sketch of their goals and dreams. When people are sitting with nothing to do, they are likely to envision themselves doing what they want in the future (Sledge, 2017). Boredom triggers creativity and empowers motivation to explore new possibilities. Boredom itself does not cause apathy, poor performance, dissatisfaction, or criminal behavior, but rather enhances creativity and autonomy and makes the person more resistant to frustration.

Although occasional boredom has its benefits, the same does not happen when it continues over time. Boredom is good occasionally, but not daily. Prolonged boredom leads to a situation of discomfort and inactivity that can lead to more complex problems such as social isolation or major depression. Boredom should not be a routine. Just like stress, pressures, and obligations in their right measure make people feel active, encouraged and satisfied, boredom in the right measure is beneficial as well.

References

Hand, M. (2016). 8# Boredom: technology, acceleration, and connected presence in the social media age. In Boredom studies reader (pp. 127-141). Routledge.

Mann, S. (2017). The science of boredom: The upside (and downside) of downtime. Robinson.

Park, G., Lim, B. C., & Oh, H. S. (2019). Why Being Bored Might Not Be a Bad Thing after All. Academy of Management Discoveries, 5(1), 78-92. https://doi.org/10.5465/amd.2017.0033

Sledge Jr, G. W. (2017). The Benefits of Boredom. Oncology Times, 39(7), 30-34. Accessed from https://www.readcube.com/articles/10.1097%2F01.COT.0000515953.93807.88

The Science Times (2020). Bored people Are More likely to Donate Blood and Do Other Meaningful Tasks, Study Shows. Accessed from https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/25220/20200406/bored-people-more-donate-blood-meaningful-tasks-study-shows.htm

Todd, D. (2005). Beware the Boredom Boom. Reader, 503-508.

Van Tilburg, W. A., & Igou, E. R. (2017). Boredom begs to differ: Differentiation from other negative emotions. Emotion, 17(2), 309. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000233